REBNY Fellows Program Enters Sixth Year in Partnership with Coro New York Leadership Center

23 rising real estate industry professionals from diverse backgrounds named to six-month, high-impact leadership training program

NEW YORK (January 21, 2026) -- The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), City’s leading real estate trade association, and Coro New York Leadership Center, the City’s premier civic leadership training organization, are celebrating the newest cohort of REBNY Fellows. Launched in 2020, the program is the first of its kind to empower young and mid-career real estate professionals from diverse backgrounds with the skills necessary to become industry leaders in the years ahead. This latest cohort features 23 promising professionals working in brokerage, development, and other real estate and adjacent fields.

Over the next six months, Fellows will participate in a high-impact leadership training program designed by REBNY and Coro New York to elevate their careers and prepare them for opportunities to increase their impact on the industry and its future. The curriculum includes exploration of diverse leadership styles; experiential, dynamic training sessions; networking opportunities with senior REBNY members; and guidance on civic engagement. Fellows will be assigned hands-on projects addressing timely issues such as AI integration, sustainability compliance and retrofitting, and office-to-residential conversions.

At the conclusion of the program, Fellows will complete a capstone project exploring solutions to a real estate issue outside their current scope of work. Capstone topics will be selected by REBNY’s Diversity Committee, and Fellows will present their work to program sponsors.

In addition to professional development, networking exposure, and advocacy and civic leadership training, REBNY Fellows become part of a lifelong professional network that supports their continued success.

“It’s essential not only to improve recruitment of young people from diverse backgrounds into real estate, but also to provide these important voices with the mentorship and opportunities necessary to build long, successful careers in our industry,” said Yvonne Riley-Tepie, Ed.D., REBNY’s Senior Vice President of Social Impact. “With the continued support of our members and employer sponsors, the Fellows curriculum and applicant pool have grown each year. We are now seeing many former Fellows promoted into leadership roles within their organizations.”

The 2026 REBNY Fellows

• Andrew Mehr, SL Green Realty Corp.

• Andrijana Lukacevic, Hines

• Danielle Hitzig, Tishman Speyer

• Esty Ottensoser, Related Companies

• Hajir Al Khusaibi, Global Holdings Management Group

• James Kelly, The Durst Organization

• James M. Gale, Cushman & Wakefield

• Jess Guzman, Turner & Townsend (CBRE)

• Joseph Ham, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

• Kenneth Richards, Rose Associates

• Leah McCusker, Suffolk Construction

• Leo Ndreci, The Durst Organization

• Nadav Avihay, SL Green Realty Corp.

• Priscilla Tuohy, Douglas Elliman

• Ruth E. Perez, Related Affordable

• Ryan Fitzpatrick, Lee & Associates

• Sanger De Vine, Two Trees Management

• Taylor Smith, Building Skills NY

• Tiffany Williams, Rudin

• Tina Russell, Rose Property Management Group

• Tommy Cater, Prestige Management

• William Fitzgerald, Upgrade Services

• William Herring, StacomSilverstein

More information on the Fellows can be found here.

REBNY is committed to advancing efforts that attract, retain, and advance women, early-career professionals, and other underrepresented talent within the real estate industry. The REBNY Fellows program was conceived and launched in 2020 as part of a broader initiative led previously by REBNY’s Diversity Committee, which works to expand professional opportunities and access and to strengthen representation across the association’s membership and the industry at large.

This past summer, REBNY partnered with the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development to place 123 talented young people in paid real estate industry internships at member firms through New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Additionally, REBNY partners with Building Skills NY to connect underemployed New Yorkers with jobs and training to create new career pathways into the construction industry.

Those interested in the next cohort can learn more about the program and complete an interest form at www.rebny.com/rebny-fellows.

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ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the City’s leading real estate trade association. Founded in 1896, REBNY represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, and salespeople; banks, financial service companies, utilities, attorneys, architects, and contractors; corporations, co-partnerships, and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate. REBNY conducts research on various civic matters including tax policy, city planning and zoning, rental conditions, land use policy, building codes, and other city, state, and federal legislation. REBNY regularly publishes market data, policy reports, and broker surveys. In addition, REBNY provides for its members: informational, technical, and technological resources; networking and charitable service opportunities; qualifying and continuing education courses; professional education programs, seminars, and designations; career-changing awards; legal advice; and a wide range of additional member benefits. For more information, please visit www.rebny.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chris Santarelli

212-616-5249

Communications@rebny.com